Chapter 14, Verse 16 (Bhagavad Gita 14.16)
Chapter 14: Guṇa Traya Vibhāg Yog – Yoga through Understanding the Three Modes of Material Nature
Sanskrit Shloka
कर्मणः सुकृतस्याहुः सात्त्विकं निर्मलं फलम्।रजसस्तु फलं दुःखमज्ञानं तमसः फलम्
Transliteration
karmaṇaḥ sukṛitasyāhuḥ sāttvikaṁ nirmalaṁ phalam rajasas tu phalaṁ duḥkham ajñānaṁ tamasaḥ phalam
Word Meanings
karmaṇaḥ—of action; su-kṛitasya—pure; āhuḥ—is said; sāttvikam—mode of goodness; nirmalam—pure; phalam—result; rajasaḥ—mode of passion; tu—indeed; phalam—result; duḥkham—pain; ajñānam—ignorance; tamasaḥ—mode of ignorance; phalam—result
Translation
The result of a virtuous act is said to be Sattvic and pure; the result of passion is misery, and the result of ignorance is darkness.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound revelation on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Bhagwan Shri Krishna elucidates the immutable laws of Karma governed by the three Gunas. He teaches Arjuna that our actions are not merely physical movements but seeds that manifest as specific states of consciousness. By choosing Sattvic actions, a seeker aligns themselves with the purity required to perceive the Divine, while Rajasic pursuits inevitably lead to the exhaustion of endless desire and suffering. Lord Krishna, the Supreme Controller, warns that remaining in Tamas binds the soul in the darkness of delusion, far from the light of Truth. Through this instruction, Shri Krishna invites every soul to transcend these modes and seek the ultimate liberation that comes through surrendered devotion to Him.